The Closer Report looks at who is picking up saves, who is stuck in a dreaded committee, and who might be next in line.
AL East
Baltimore Orioles: Jorge Lopez (RP – BAL)
Boston Red Sox: Hansel Robles (RP – BOS)
New York Yankees: Aroldis Chapman (RP – NYY)
Tampa Bay Rays: Andrew Kittredge (RP – TB)
Toronto Blue Jays: Jordan Romano (RP – TOR)
Jorge Lopez still has all four saves for an Orioles team that doesn’t provide many save opportunities. Nonetheless, his role remains safe for now. Boston has five relievers, all with one save, showing how much a committee this is. Matt Strahm picked up the last save for the Red Sox on Friday.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox: Liam Hendriks (RP – CWS)
Cleveland Guardians: Emmanuel Clase (RP – CLE)
Detroit Tigers: Gregory Soto (RP – DET)
Kansas City Royals: Scott Barlow (RP – KC)
Minnesota Twins: Emilio Pagan (RP – MIN)
The Twins and Royals closer situations both look like committees right now between Pagan and Tyler Duffey in Minnesota and Barlow and Josh Staumont in Kansas City’s bullpen. Staumont and Pagan led their respective bullpens with two saves on the season.
AL West
Houston Astros: Rafael Montero (RP – HOU)
Los Angeles Angels: Raisel Iglesias (RP – LAA)
Oakland Athletics: Dany Jimenez (RP – OAK)
Seattle Mariners: Paul Sewald (RP – SEA)
Texas Rangers: Joe Barlow (RP – TEX)
The Mariners recently took Sewald off the COVID IL. He should take back over his lead closer role in Seattle’s bullpen, though it’ll likely remain somewhat of a committee. Drew Steckenrider recently blew a save opportunity, while Andres Munoz also recently picked up his first save and will probably stay in the late-inning mix. Jimenez remains the primary closer in the Athletics bullpen while Lou Trivino is still sidelined. Astros manager Dusty Baker recently said primary closer Ryan Pressly is not quite ready to return from the injured list. In the meantime, Montero and Ryne Stanek continue to split the save opportunities in the Astros bullpen.
NL East
Atlanta Braves: Kenley Jansen (RP – ATL)
Miami Marlins: Anthony Bender (RP – MIA)
New York Mets: Edwin Diaz (RP – NYM)
Philadelphia Phillies: Corey Knebel (RP – PHI)
Washington Nationals: Tanner Rainey (RP – WSH)
Bender remains the clear closer in the Marlins bullpen, and with a few more clean appearances, he could stay the closer even when Dylan Floro is healthy. Cole Sulser picked up the save for Miami on Thursday mainly because Bender was unavailable, but Bender recorded the save on Friday for Miami. Rainey picked up his last save on April 19, the last save opportunity for any Washington reliever.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs: David Robertson (RP – CHC)
Cincinnati Reds: Lucas Sims (RP – CIN)
Milwaukee Brewers: Josh Hader (RP – MIL)
Pittsburgh Pirates: David Bednar (RP – PIT)
St. Louis Cardinals: Giovanny Gallegos (RP – STL)
The Pirates’ closer situation remains a committee between Bednar and Chris Stratton. Bednar recently worked a scoreless eighth inning before Stratton blew the save opportunity in the ninth inning. Sims was activated from the injured list last week, picking up the save opportunity in his second appearance last Sunday. It’ll be worth monitoring this situation to see if Sims takes complete control of the Reds’ closer role or if Art Warren remains in the situation.
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks: Ian Kennedy (RP – ARI)
Colorado Rockies: Daniel Bard (RP – COL)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Craig Kimbrel (RP – LAD)
San Diego Padres: Taylor Rogers (RP – SD)
San Francisco Giants: Camilo Doval (RP – SF)
On Sunday, Mark Melancon was placed on the COVID IL, so Kennedy figures to take over any save opportunities for Arizona while Melancon is sidelined. Doval picked up his fourth save of the season out of the Giants bullpen last Monday, giving him eight straight scoreless appearances after allowing three runs in his first appearance of the season.
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Ari Koslow is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Ari, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter at @Koslow_Ari.
